In commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ghana National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), the Africa Youth Advisory Board for Disaster Risk Reduction (AYARB_DRR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Accra office organized a quiz competition among senior high schools in Ghana.
The aim of this quiz is to educate young people and raise awareness on the basic principles of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Sendai Framework for DRR (SFDRR), African Program of Action (PoA), and their connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It was also to promote Ghana’s strategy on engaging young people in Disaster Risk Reduction, Recovery information on COVID-19 and Ghana’s National Development Agenda.
The Quiz competition was organized in the Northern belt between Bolgatanga and Tamale, Middle belt (Kumasi), and Southern Belt (Cape Coast) with Four (4) schools competing amongst each other.
NADMO Ghana is legally mandated to manage disasters and coordinate all DRR activities in Ghana and as such considers children and youth as valuable stakeholders in the DRR process.
A clear strategy dubbed ‘Catch them young” has been developed and been in operation since 2018.
Speaking to the Programme Officer of GAYO, Betty Osei Bonsu on the sidelines of the quiz competition, she said this is the second edition of the quiz competition and the Cape Coast Quiz was the final preliminary to the grand Finale happening on the 8th of November 2020.
She further mentioned the brain behind the quiz competition in the person of Sandra Delali Kemeh, the Chairperson for the AYARB_DRR.
The Communication Director of NADMO, Mr. George Ayisi, who gave the keynote address before the quiz competition, said the programmes ought to have been held on the 13th of October but due to Covid-19, it had to be postponed.
He added that, with the theme of this year being governance, they are looking to promote leadership and ensure sustainability amongst the youth.
The NADMO Director for Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Mr. Koranteng Abrokwa took the opportunity to thank his able Director General, Eric Nana Agyeman-Prempeh for his sterling leadership, the Ghana Education Service for their Corporation, GAYO, AYARB_DRR and UNESCO Accra Office for their partnership in the organization of the competition for the selected Senior High Schools.
The competing schools for the southern belt (Cape Coast) were Aggrey Memorial Senior High School, Cape Coast International School, and SAMMO Senior High School. This was held at the studios of GBC Radio Central, Wednesday, the 4th of November, 2020.
The competition was very interesting and tied among all the three schools during the first two rounds. Additional questions were developed to break the tie to decide which school emerged the winner among the three.
At the end of the deciding questions, Aggrey Senior High had 114 points, Cape Coast International had 115 points, and SAMMO Senior High School had 120 points. SAMMO SHS were declared winners for the Southern Zone (Cape Coast) and will go to the grand finale in Accra.
Success Sowah, the GAYO Cape Coast Coordinator, giving the vote of thanks, showed appreciation to sponsors, individuals present, GBC Radio Central staff especially Mr. Donkoh, Head of Technical, Paa Kwesi Otabil, Head of Programmes, Mr. Azu, Head Marketing, D.C. Kwame Kwakye who helped with the entire coordination, Kingsley Nana Badu, the Quiz Master James Torkornoo who was in charge of the IT support service and the GAYO UCC Campus Chapter a for their participation and contributions.
Other important dignitaries present at the quiz competition were Mr. Kissi Duah, the NADMO Director for man-made Disasters, and Mr. Emmanuel Quacou Ikpe, the Metropolitan Developmental Planner and NADMO Regional Representatives.
Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) is a youth-led gender-balanced advocacy group committed to sustainable development. DRR fits into GAYO’s overall strategy of contributing to sustainable development because if disaster risks are not reduced, they can reverse or stagnate whatever developments have been achieved.
GAYO’s vision is to create and sustain a healthy natural environment. To achieve this vision, GAYO facilitates the capacity building of young people to provide solutions and take action on pressing environmental issues.
Africa Youth Advisory Board on DRR (AYAB_DRR) is a board instituted under the Africa Union Commission (AUC) to facilitate the meaningful engagement of young people in DRR at all levels. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO Accra Office is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture.
Story Filed By: Prosper Adarkia
